The first Soviet military decoration "To the earnest soldier of Karelian front" was established by the order of the Revolution Military Counsel on March 5th 1922 to mark the success of the military operation suppressing Karelian Uprising (September 1921 – February 1922).

The order stated that "the right to bear the decoration have all the Red Army soldiers and servicemen that took part in the liquidation of the White Finns invasion into Karelian territory". No certificates were given, but the information about decoration was entered into military identity documents and booked in service records.

Decoration, sized 56x37 mm, was made of copper and tin-plate. Several special items were made from silver.